GB2615707A

GB2615707A - Column formation tools

Info

Publication number: GB2615707A
Application number: GB2307249.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yin So Ka; Hau Kan Chan Willie; Yin Kwan Man
Original assignee: Build King Zens Engineering Ltd
Current assignee: Build King Zens Engineering Ltd
Priority date: 2020-11-25
Filing date: 2021-11-25
Publication date: 2023-08-16
Also published as: WO2022112989A1; GB202307249D0

Abstract

A column formation tool comprising a head portion and a shank portion. The head portion comprises a core portion and an outer peripheral portion which surrounds the core portion. The outer peripheral portion comprises protuberances which are distributed between a first axial end and a second axial end to surround the core portion and define the outermost periphery of the head portion. At least some of the protuberances are configured as cutting teeth for breaking hard substances during advancement of the column formation tool.

Claims

1. A column formation tool for forming a column in a column region below a surface, the tool comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is a leading portion comprising a core portion and a peripheral portion having an outermost periphery which surrounds the core portion, wherein the core portion extends along an axial direction between a first axial end and a second axial end, the axial direction being defined by a core axis which is a center axis defining an advancement axis and a first advancement direction which is an advancement direction of the first portion; wherein the second portion is a trailing portion comprising an elongate shank portion which extends between a first longitudinal end which is proximal to the first portion and a second longitudinal end which is distal to the first portion, and wherein a channel which is configured for delivery of column-formation materials into the region is defined inside the shank portion defining; and wherein the peripheral portion comprises a plurality of protuberances, and the protuberances are distributed between the first axial end and the second axial end and to surround the core portion and define the outermost periphery of the head portion.

2. The column formation tool of claim 1 , wherein the outermost periphery of the head portion comprises a track of teeth which extends between the first axial end and the second axial end and which surrounds the core portion, wherein the track of teeth comprises a plurality of teeth and each tooth of the track of teeth is a protuberance of the plurality of protuberances.

3. The column formation tool of claim 1 , wherein the outermost periphery of the head portion comprises a first track of teeth and as second track of teeth, wherein each track of teeth extends between the first axial end and the second axial end and which surrounds the core portion, wherein each track of teeth comprises a plurality of teeth and each tooth of the track of teeth is a protuberance of the plurality of protuberances; and wherein the first track of teeth and the second track of teeth have opposite chirality.

4. The column formation tool of any preceding claims, wherein a protuberance comprises a base portion having a base surface, an end portion having an end surface, and an intermediate portion interconnecting the end portion and the base portion; wherein the base portion is proximal to the core portion and the end portion is distal to the core portion, wherein the end surface is a crest surface which defines the outermost surface of the protuberance.

5. The column formation tool of any preceding claims, wherein the intermediate portion of the protuberance comprises a forward surface and a rearward surface, and wherein the protuberance comprises a cutting portion which extends between the end surface and the forward surface, the end surface being a top surface of the protuberance most distal to the core portion.

6. The column formation tool of any preceding claims, wherein the plurality of protuberances comprises a plurality of teeth which is distributed to form a teethed track, the teeth track extending between the first axial end and the second axial end to surround the core portion; wherein the teeth track comprises a first tooth which is at a first axial level and at a first radial distance from the core axis to form a first track end, a second tooth which is at a second axial level and at a second radial distance from the core axis to form a second track end, and an intermediate tooth which is at intermediate axial level and at an intermediate radial distance from the core axis, the intermediate axial level being between the second and the first axial levels; wherein the second axial end is proximal to the shank portion and the first axial end is distal to the shank portion,; the and wherein the second radial distance is larger than the intermediate radial distance, and the intermediate radial distance is larger than the first radial distance.

7. The column formation tool of claim 6, wherein the first tooth is at a first angular position, the second tooth is at a second angular position which is trailing behind the first angular position, and the intermediate tooth is at an intermediate angular position which is between the first and second angular positions; and wherein the first angular position, the intermediate angular position, and the second angular position have a sum of angles of separation of larger than 80 degrees, including larger than 90, 100, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, or any range or ranges selected from the aforesaid values.

8. The column formation tool of claim 6, wherein the protuberance has a forward axis defining a forward direction, wherein the cutting portion is on a forward corner of the protuberance and has a cutting edge which extends transversely to the forward direction, and wherein the forward direction of the protuberance makes an acute angle with the core axis, the acute angle may be between 45 and 75 degrees.

9. The column formation tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of protuberances defines a train of teeth which is distributed on an elevated track, the elevated track being intermediate the train of teeth and the core portion.

10. The column formation tool of claim 9, wherein the elevated track is configured as an auger and comprise a first curved portion, wherein the curved portion has an angle of inclination with respect to the core axis, and the angle of inclination changes from being less parallel to the core axis to more parallel to the core axis on extending towards the first axial end.

11 . The column formation tool of claim 10, wherein the elevated track has a second curved portion, and an intermediate portion interconnecting the first curved portion and the second curved portion, the intermediate portion being an inflexion portion.

12. The column formation tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of protuberances is distributed along a curved track which is configured as or to resemble a corkscrew thread, the curved track extending between a second track end which is at the second axial level and a first track end which is at or proximal the first axial end.

13. The tool of claim 12, wherein the curved track comprises a first flank surface, a second flank surface and a crest surface interconnecting the first and second flank surfaces, the crest surface protruding from the core portion, extending away from the core axis and defining the curved track.

14. The tool of claims 12 or 13, wherein the first track end is a tapered end which is configured to form a breaking tip of the tool, the breaking tool being configured for penetrating into the region on rotation of the tool about the core axis.

15. The tool according to any of claims 12-14, wherein the curved track comprises a first curved portion, a second curved portion, and an intermediate portion which is an inflexion portion interconnecting the first and the second curved portions; and wherein the first curved portion continues from the inflexion portion and curves to change to reduce its angle of inclination with respect to the core axis on extending towards the first axial end of the core portion to form a forward end of the curved track.

16. The tool of claim 15, wherein the first curved portion comprises an initial portion which is proximal to the inflexion portion and an end portion including the forward end, wherein the initial portion has an initial angle of inclination and the end portion has a final angle of inclination which is smaller than the initial angle of inclination, and wherein the angle of inclination of the first curved portion gradually changes from the initial angle of inclination to the final angle of inclination on extending from the initial portion to the end portion, the angle of inclination being measured with respect to the core axis.

17. The tool according to any preceding claims, wherein the plurality of protuberances comprises a first protuberance which is disposed at a first axial level that is proximal the first axial end, a second protuberance that is disposed at a second axial level which is distal to the first axial end, and a multitude of two or more protuberances distributed between the first and second axial levels.

18. The tool of claim 17, wherein the first protuberance is at a first angular position which is a reference angular position, the second protuberance is at a second angular position, and the multitude of two or more protuberances comprises a third protuberance which is at a third angular position and a third axial level; wherein the third axial level is intermediate the first and second axial levels and the third angular position is intermediate the first and second angular positions.

19. The tool of claim 18, wherein the multitude of two or more protuberances comprises a fourth protuberance which is at a fourth angular position and a fourth axial level; wherein the fourth axial level is intermediate the second and third axial levels and the fourth angular position is intermediate the second and third angular positions.

20. The tool of claim 19, wherein the third angular position corresponds to a first angular increment from the first angular position, the fourth angular position corresponds to a second angular increment from the third angular position, and the second angular position corresponds to a third angular increment from the fourth angular position; and wherein the first angular increment, the second angular increment and the third angular increment has a sum of 360 degrees or more; and wherein the third axial level is at a first axial distance from the first axial level, the fourth axial level is at a second axial distance from the third axial level, and the second axial level is at a third axial distance from the fourth axial level.

21 . The tool of claims 19 or 20, wherein the first protuberance, the third protuberance, the fourth protuberance, and the second protuberance are sequentially disposed on a curved track; wherein the curved track comprises a first curved portion which includes the first protuberance, a second curved portion which includes the second protuberance, and an intermediate portion interconnecting the first and the second curved portions, the intermediate portion being an inflexion portion.